So my 3 yr old foster was adopted yesterday! I went in today and found her still there. She developed an infection in her spay incision and it was said to be pus filled and beet-red as of completion of the adoption.
How quickly do these symptoms appear? Her tummy was pink like the rest of her skin and there was no noticable swelling (to me anyways) as of yesterday morning. I has wiped her down on the legs and tail with a damp rag and then checked to make sure I didn't get any moisture near her incision, and am just baffled that she was sick. Her spirits were high, no signs of pain, kept quiet in a clean crate with some very light waliking outside for potty and quiet snuggle time. I just don't know if I should have noticed something else, or whether these thingw can come on in a matter of hours? He spay didn't go great I was told today. She had multiplr tumors and cycsts, but I had no idea when she was here. Any ways I can help this issue in other fosters for future reference? What should I have been doing to help her to begin with?

One thing I have done in the past when I've had girls spayed is take their temp a few times a day. You can sometimes catch an internal problem before symptoms even start to show by watching her temp.

I had one dog, my Yellow Lab Brandy, that developed an allergy to the sutures. That was a real fun experience.... NOT. Since we couldn't take the sutures out, we had to keep her comfortable until they dissolved- then they came out through the skin. I am not kidding- I've never seen anything like it. She would have a red spot- like a pimple- and then a piece of string would appear, and I had to pull it out.

I hope she heals quickly and is off to her new home soon!!!

A bit off topic.

I am allergic to dissolving sutures and yes they kind of melt the skin and create swelling and infection like pimples.

A real joy even for the human. Usually it now take just a few minutes for the reaction. (no more dissolving sutures for me) but the first time it took about 4-5 day to flare up.

Hope your girl get well soon.

My Pointer got a nasty infection after she was spayed years ago, becasue she just would not stop licking at it and pulling at the stitches, she ended up back at the vets for more stitches and a bucket load of antibiotics.

I took a fortnight off work and virtually had her tied to me the whole time, I was told to keep it dry and watch her like a hawk, she freaked with the buster collar on so I used tee shirts and that helped a lot, but the healing process took an age, when Sugar was spayed I was better prepared and she healed really quickly.

If your girl had the added problem of the cysts in the mix, I guess that might have compounded the issue???

Having been 'spayed' myself for cancer 15 years ago, I can say the healing process is slow, and I did feel like I had been kicked by horses then dragged round a field for good measure, so I sympathise with your girl!

Hope she gets better soon

When my TFT Gracie had surgery recently the vet had an herbal spray that he used and had us and her other owner use on days she could be at home (she was going thru surgry, chemo, etc so spent a lot of time at the vet's). I'll see if I can find out the name because it really worked and prevented possible problms.

Not a spay, but when Vigo was neutered a little over a week ago, I used Vetericyn spray on his incision.

He did lick the incision (no getting a cone on that boy)and I was worried about infection.

Spray cost $30 for a smallish bottle, but it is worth it. Healing really sped up and incision looks great now.